New York Giants Training Camp: Coughlin Says Final Week 'Critical'

Today begins a week that head coach Tom Coughlin calls "critical" for the 2011 New York Giants. The Giants have five full practices this week -- the final week of what is still considered training camp -- before hosting the Chicago Bears on Monday night at New Meadowlands Stadium.

The fact that the team's revamped offense is a work in progress was obvious in Saturday's 20-10 preseason-opening loss to the Carolina Panthers.

"There is obviously a lot of work that needs to be done," Coughlin said. "This is a very important week for us to ascend and I think that good things take time. The attitude being what it is here, I think the players are going to come in and be hungry to address the issues that we have and to again, solve some of those issues."

One of those issues, of course, is developing the communication with the revamped offensive line. With an entirely new left side of the offensive line, including free-agent signee David Baas, there were some breakdowns Saturday against Carolina.

"David Baas is going to be a good player for us. There is no doubt in my mind," Coughlin said. "We do have some growing pains to experience there before we do have that kind of verbal or non-verbal communication that takes place when people have played with each other for a considerable amount of time."

Odds 'n Ends

Osi Umenyiora is expected to practice today for the first time. ... Coughlin said Sunday he had no idea on when wide receiver Ramses Barden and reserve center Adam Koets might be ready to come off the PUP list. ... Coughlin said kicker Lawrence Tynes has a thigh bruise, and he did not know yet if the team would need to bring in a kicker for the Bears game.